"Gossip Girl" is a classic guilty pleasure: an opportunity to watch a walking, talking, bitching Saks Fifth Avenue catalog come to life, ... Show More »

"Gossip Girl" is a classic guilty pleasure: an opportunity to watch a walking, talking, bitching Saks Fifth Avenue catalog come to life, all without having to pay the stylist, do the rehab or worry about social position.

But somewhere along the way, our favorite Upper East Siders have lost their sheen  and a couple of Parents Television Council-riling episodes featuring a threesome just aren't enough to keep us interested for long.

But for those who believe all hope is not lost and Zap2It is here with a plan to keep the sun shining on the Upper East Side.

The current threesome storyline that has the PTC up in arms isn't the first time "Gossip Girl" has... Show More »

The current threesome storyline that has the PTC up in arms isn't the first time "Gossip Girl" has landed in the hot seat for getting racy. The flesh-drenched print ads for this season that turned critics' negative statements into promotional tag lines was smart, cheeky marketing, and they got plenty of attention. But how many times can you pull that rabbit out of a hat? It's been reported that the ménage a trios will stretch over two episodes - the act itself and the flashbacks. But where does it go from there? If we're forced to go back to watching Blair's fit-of-the-week as standard fare, it will feel like a lot of effort for not much payoff. « Less

3/13

Step 2: Satire or soap opera?:

We love the pretty clothes and the pretty people doing not-so-pretty things, but what's missing is a consiste... Show More »

We love the pretty clothes and the pretty people doing not-so-pretty things, but what's missing is a consistent tone. Is "Gossip Girl" a fun teen soap with unusually attractive parents, made more interesting by the trappings of extreme wealth? Or is it, with Blair's quest for minions and philosophy about generations of breeding, a social satire on eating the rich? The over-the-top moments are often great, but the straight-up drama can sag. But make a call and stick to it (and if the choice were ours, we say jump into the campy pool), the water's warm. « Less

4/13

Step 3: Make something out of the college years:

There's no time for character development like college and the challenges of growing up can... Show More »

There's no time for character development like college and the challenges of growing up can make for great stuff. On "Beverly Hills, 90210," Kelly became interesting, Dylan got married and the producers took the opportunity clear out a little dead wood (a.k.a. Brenda). On "Dawson's Creek," Pacey (eventually) found some direction, Jen grew up and Joey sang in a bar. You're at least part of the way there with Chuck's new seriousness, Vanessa's enthusiasm and Dan's ... going to class. The others could use a good swift kick too. « Less

5/13

Step 4: Let Serena be smart:

We realize that Serena's dealt with some things: her father's abandonment, her mother's many marriage... Show More »

We realize that Serena's dealt with some things: her father's abandonment, her mother's many marriages, her own issues with addiction and rehab and practically hand-to-hand combat at times with Blair and the rest of the posse. We also know she probably got into both Yale and Brown because of who she is and not her transcript. But must she keep doing stupid things over and over, from the tabloid exploits in Europe to the Buckley card game? While she's trying to find herself, let her find some good sense. Otherwise, maybe she can follow the advice that would best serve a lot of young celebrity women: put on some clothes and go to college. « Less

6/13

Step 5: Give Blair a character arc:

Shouldn't there be a statute of limitations on high school behavior. You know, like graduating from high... Show More »

Shouldn't there be a statute of limitations on high school behavior. You know, like graduating from high school? A young woman of Blair's talent and ambition should surely be setting her sights higher than "ruling" NYU. Can't she be involved in an insider trading scheme or something by now? The maturing relationship with Chuck is a good beginning, but Blair needs to either grow up and get responsible or go big with her evil. Why settle for minions when world domination awaits? « Less

7/13

Step 6: Give Nate something to do:

Nate's embracing his Vanderbilt destiny has given him a little bit more screen time, but it hasn't m... Show More »

Nate's embracing his Vanderbilt destiny has given him a little bit more screen time, but it hasn't made him more interesting. He took one for the team by saying he set up the fake-rescue hoax for Trip's congressional campaign, and he dated a Buckley, but otherwise he's been little more than peripheral. He's cute, he's got his "Footloose remake in the works - let the boy show off some chops. « Less

8/13

Step 7: Give us all the Chuck we can handle:

We've grown to love Chuck, in no small part because Ed Westwick practically twirls his handleba... Show More »

We've grown to love Chuck, in no small part because Ed Westwick practically twirls his handlebar moustache in every other scene. We appreciate that Chuck is driven by ambition and a degree of revenge, rather than a growing maturity. We've even given him a pass on the tiresome modelizing and "Eyes Wide Shut" adventures. And he usually gets the best one-liners. Let's see if Chuck can survive a few business knocks, learn from them and get more ruthless in his business life while building a separate private one. « Less

9/13

Step 8: Where's Gossip Girl?:

College life in general just seems too big and diffuse for Gossip Girl to be that big an influence any more. D... Show More »

College life in general just seems too big and diffuse for Gossip Girl to be that big an influence any more. Dan's girlfriend is on Jimmy Fallon and is being chased by paparazzi while getting free condoms at the student health center, for heaven's sake. The pond has grown a bit. Either find a way to make Constance and Jenny's dominance there a more central storyline, or get Gossip Girl a job at Page Six. « Less

10/13

Step 9: Use Jenny and Eric more:

Speaking of using Constance in the storyline more, we want to see more of Jenny and how she's navigating as... Show More »

Speaking of using Constance in the storyline more, we want to see more of Jenny and how she's navigating as Queen Bee. So far there have been glimpses, but she's up to something and we need to know more. Where's her Nelly Yuki? And Eric may end up being the moral compass for all of them, but we'll never know unless he's got more than two minutes per episode. « Less

11/13

Step 10: Fix the hair and wardrobe malfunctions:

These are beautiful young men and women - and Lily and Rufus ain't bad either - and despi... Show More »

These are beautiful young men and women - and Lily and Rufus ain't bad either - and despite the occasional Bassian rhetorical fashion flourish, they're usually coiffed and styled to the hilt. Which is why there's really no excuse for the scary condition of Vanessa's weave this season, or the fact that Serena can't seem to stop dressing like a showgirl in New York, in autumn, when it's cold outside. « Less

12/13

Step 11: More Dorota:

The "Chasing Dorota" webisodes were great (for Verizon customers), but we can't get enough of Dorota and we've be... Show More »

The "Chasing Dorota" webisodes were great (for Verizon customers), but we can't get enough of Dorota and we've been starved for her this season. Aside from complaining to Chuck about her distaste for a "foot bothering" (pure gold), she hasn't been around much. She's an odd voice of reason and one of the few moments we get to laugh on purpose. When we said we love her, we weren't lying. « Less

13/13

Step 12: There's stunt casting, and then there's good stunt casting:

Bringing Hilary Duff aboard for a few episodes this season has bee... Show More »

Bringing Hilary Duff aboard for a few episodes this season has been a great example. She seems to be a good match for Dan, and she actually gets extended interaction with the other characters and doesn't just stick out like a sore thumb. We love us some Posh Spice. Give her an extended cameo so she doesn't just join the ranks of the fly-by-nights this season: Tyra Banks, Tory Burch, Georgina Chapman, Cyndi Lauper, Sonic Youth and Lady Gaga. Though if the next Spice Girl reunion came together on the Upper East Side ... . « Less